Sure enough, that’s where Minster has landed yet again. In Friday’s tripleheader opener, Minster (10-4) will play Cuyahoga Heights (13-1) in the Division VII state championship at Canton’s new Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (10 a.m.).
“We have a different mindset about losing,” said Stokes during a statewide media conference call this week. “I think we have to go through some of that every year to reach some success. Every year that we’ve had success, we’ve hit rock bottom. From that point on our kids have been incredibly humble about the fact that we have to go to work and get better. It’s just our nature.”
That’s the first of four state title games that involve area teams. Saturday’s final-day tripleheader begins with top-ranked and defending champion Marion Local (14-0) playing No. 2 Kirtland (14-0) for the D-VI championship (10 a.m.). After that it’s Clinton-Massie (13-1) vs. Steubenville (14-0) in the D-IV title game (3 p.m.) and finally No. 1 Trotwood-Madison (14-0) faces upstart Dresden Tri-Valley (14-1) in the D-III championship (8 p.m.).
All the games will be shown live on Spectrum cable television (Ch. 99).
Minster’s 2-0 start in 2014 was spoiled by consecutive losses to Coldwater and Marion Local. No shame in that; those two state powers have mostly had their way in the Midwest Athletic Conference for a decade of dominance. Minster answered by winning a D-VI state title.
Last season was more daunting. After losing four straight games the Wildcats were 2-4 and wondering what had just happened. They didn’t lose again until falling to Warren John F. Kennedy 24-6 in the D-VII state title game.
That win-loss script played out again this season for Minster after successive MAC losses to Marion Local, Fort Recovery, St. Henry and Coldwater. Minster hasn’t lost since, winning seven straight.
Minster’s most impressive outing was its last, a 40-7 hammering of previously unbeaten and No. 1 Norwalk St. Paul at Lima.
“We could see on film, oh, man, if we don’t attack this thing we’re in trouble,” recalled Stokes. “We had guys screaming and yelling at each other in practice. It just was intense and exciting all week. There was a sense of urgency.”
The Wildcats had the same kind of practice vibe this week, too. Cuyahoga Heights lost to Marion Local in the D-VI title game last year and bumped down to D-VII this season.
“Our kids perked up again,” Stokes said. “They’re not idiots.”
The MAC was just as impressive when a sixth division was added, playing in 19 D-VI state title games from 1994-2012 and winning 15 titles.
• Six players received votes for Ohio’s Mr. Football award. Winner Joey Baughman, a senior quarterback from Wadsworth, and runner-up Ra’veion Hargrove, a senior running back from Trotwood, were the only players to receive more than one first-place vote.
Others who received votes were Sandusky senior quarterback Ja’Vez Alexander, Harvest Prep senior running back Daniel Bangura, Cleveland Heights senior defensive end Tyreke Smith and Hannibal River senior QB Lukas Islay.
Voting was done by statewide district media reps and compiled by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.
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